Select

• Function

In MIDAS/Gen, selection of nodes and elements during the data entry process of creating or assigning nodes and elements or attributes (boundary conditions, loads, etc.) is frequently repeated throughout the entire modeling process.

Select Functions select the desired nodes or elements in the Model Window or remove the selection. Select provides a wide variety of powerful selection functions that will simplify and expedite modeling processes irrespective of the complexity of the structure in question.

In conjunction with Activities, which selectively displays the desired parts of the model in the Working Window, the select functions provide the utmost modeling environment.

All the select functions are effective only on the nodes and elements activated by the Active feature.

The selected nodes and elements are represented on the screen as follows:

Node
Change the color of nodes. Use the Color tab of Display Option to modify the color displayed for the selected nodes.

Line Element
Change the color of element centerlines. Use the Color tab of Display Option to modify the color displayed for the selected elements.

Plate Element
Display additionally reduced element shapes. Use the Color tab of Display Option to modify the color displayed for the selected elements.

Solid Element
Display additionally reduced element shapes. Use the Color tab of Display Option to modify the color displayed for the selected elements.

• Call

From the Main Menu select View > Select > Identity.

From the Main Menu select View > Select > Single.

From the Main Menu select View > Select > Window.

From the Main Menu select View > Select > Polygon.

From the Main Menu select View > Select > Intersect Line.

From the Main Menu select View > Select > Plane.

From the Main Menu select View > Select > Volume.

From the Main Menu select View > Select > Select All.

Click Select Identity-Nodes in the Icon Menu.

Click Select Identity-Elements in the Icon Menu.

Click Select Single in the Icon Menu.

 Shortcut key: [Ctrl] + [Shift] + S

Click Select Window in the Icon Menu.

Click Select Polygon in the Icon Menu.

Click Select Intersect Line in the Icon Menu.

Click Select Plane in the Icon Menu.

Click Select Volume in the Icon Menu.

Click Select All in the Icon Menu.

 Shortcut key: [Ctrl] + [Shift] + A

• Usage

Select Identity dialog box

Select Identity (or Select Identity Nodes / Elements)

The functions support the selection of nodes or elements by attributes (type of element, material property, section, boundary condition, etc.)

All: Select all the nodes and elements.

None: Cancel the selection of all nodes and elements.

Inverse: Mutually interchange the status of the selected and unselected.

Prev: Recall the previous selection.

Nodes: Assign when selecting nodes.

Elements: Assign when selecting elements.

Identity list of nodes and elements

Element Type: Select by element types (Refer to "Create Elements")

Material: Select by material properties (Refer to "Material")

Section: Select line elements by sections (Refer to "Section")

Thickness: Select plate elements by thicknesses (Refer to "Thickness")

Named Plane: Select by plane names (Refer to "Named Plane")

Story: Select by stories (Refer to "Story")

Structure Group: Select by Structure Groups (See "Define Structure Group")

Boundary Group: Select by Boundary Groups (See "Define Boundary Group")

Load Group: Select by Load Groups (See "Define Load Group")

Support: Select by support conditions (Refer to "Supports")

Beam End Release: Select by beam end release conditions (Refer to "Beam End Release")

Wall ID: Select by wall combination numbers (Refer to "Create Elements")

Hinge Type: Select by Hinge Types (See "Define Hinge Data Type")
 

In the case of Element Type, Material, Section and Thickness noted above, assign the elements with desired attributes in the Working Window rather than selecting the desired entities in the attributes sub-list.

When using the function, select a desired identity in the Identity list, click the entry field at the bottom of the sub-list and assign the entities of desired attributes in the Working Window. Check () Multiple to the right so that a number of entities can be assigned with the mouse.

Use the following buttons to add, remove or replace selected entities.

Add: Add the selected entities to the existing selection list.

Delete: Remove the selected entities from the existing selection list.

Replace: Substitute the selected entities for the registered contents in the existing selection list.

Intersect: Select only the nodes or elements satisfying the multi-select entity conditions from the existing selection list. (ex.: beam elements at 10th floor)

Select Identity-Section

 Single

Place the mouse cursor in the vicinity of the node or element to be selected in the Model Window and left click the mouse to select the nodes or elements one-by-one.

If the selected entities are reassigned, the selection is cancelled. For efficiency, use the function in conjunction with Node Snap or Element Snap.

Drag the mouse left-clicked in a desired direction to execute the Select Window function.

Select Single

 Window

Select entities by defining a rectangle in the Model Window.

Left click consecutively two diagonal corners of the rectangle encompassing the entities to be selected in the Working Window.

First, click the left corner in the Working Window and drag the mouse rightward to select the nodes or elements completely included in the rectangle window.

First, click the right corner and drag the mouse leftward to select the nodes or elements completely included in the rectangle as well as the elements intersecting with the borders.

Select Window

 Polygon

Select entities by defining the borders of a polygon in the Model Window.

Left click consecutively the corners in the Working Window so that the defined polygon encompasses the entities to be selected. When defining the last corner, double (left) click to select the nodes and elements completely included in the polygon.

In order to select the elements intersecting with the borders as well, double (left) click the last corner while holding the [Ctrl] key.

Select Polygon

 Intersect Line

Select the elements intersecting with arbitrary lines drawn consecutively with the mouse in the Working Window.

When drawing the lines, place the mouse initially to simplify the selection and left click the mouse. Continue drawing lines consecutively by left-clicking the mouse at different points and double (left) click the last point.

Select Intersect

 Select Plane

Select every node and element contained in a defined plane.

The following dialog box is used to define a plane.

Select Plane dialog box

3 Points
Assign 3 points defining a select plane. Enter GCS coordinates of the points or click consecutively the three points in the Working Window to define the plane.

XY Plane
When the select plane is parallel to GCS X-Y plane, enter GCS Z-coordinate of the plane or click a point on the plane in the Working Window.

XZ Plane
When the select plane is parallel to GCS X-Z plane, enter GCS Y-coordinate of the plane or click a point on the plane in the Working Window.

YZ Plane
When the select plane is parallel to GCS Y-Z plane, enter GCS X-coordinate of the plane or click a point on the plane in the Working Window.

Note
3 Points need not be on a plane parallel with the GCS or UCS axes.

3 Points Function of Select Plane

  Select Volume

Select every node and element in a defined cubiform volume.

The following dialog box is used to define a volume.

Select Volume dialog box

2 Points
Enter the coordinates of two diagonal points or click the two points in the Working Window, defining a cubiform volume.

XYZ Limit
Enter the maximum and minimum values in each GCS coordinate axis defining the boundaries of a cubiform volume. Alternatively, click the relevant entry fields and assign the desired positions in the Working Window with the mouse.

Set Min Max
Upon clicking Set Min Max, the maximum and minimum coordinates of the currently activated structure are automatically entered. The user may reenter coordinates as necessary.

Select Volume

 Select All

Select every node and element.

Note
MIDAS/Gen supports Filtering Selection, which allows the user to select linear elements (truss element, beam element, etc.) according to the directions of elements.

Select a desired direction or plane from the Filter field of Status Bar and use Graphic Selection (Single, Window, Polygon, Intersect Line, Plane, Volume, All) to Select or Unselect linear elements. From the selected linear elements, only the elements satisfying the Filter conditions will be selected / unselected.

Plate and solid elements can not be filtered and, as such, are always included in the selection for Select / Unselect.

In the figure above, even if the entire model is selected by Select All, only the elements parallel to GCS Z-axis (UCS z-axis) are selected. The GCS Z-axis has been opted for filtering.

The Filter options can be applied to the following ranges :

If Specified Selection (Select Identity-Nodes, Select Identity-Elements, Group Selection, Select Previous, Select Recent Entities) is used, Filter does not work when selecting the entities. In such a case, assign entities first and click ( ) Filtering in the Status Bar to select the elements corresponding to the Filter conditions.